Facebook and ChildLine launch campaign to stop bullying

November 13th, 2012

Social network Facebook and children’s charity ChildLine have teamed up in an attempt to protect young people from online bullying.

Online bullying has become a huge problem in recent years since the rise of social networking. It means bullies can now follow their victims right into their homes, at all times of day and night, in full view of the public eye.

Just as the invention of the gun gave people the option to kill from a comfortable distance, social networking now allows bullies to taunt and abuse their victims from behind the safety of their computer screens.

Last year ChildLine took an average of 87 calls a day from children worried about bullying.

Now, Facebook and ChildLine have teamed up to launch Step Up: Stop Bullying, an anti-bullying app that offers guidance on who to go to and what to do if the user is affected by bullying.

The campaign is being supported by Liam Payne from popular body band One Direction, TV presenters Ant and Dec, and UK pop singer Leona Lewis.

Sue Minto, Head of ChildLine said: “We believe in the power of friends to help prevent bullying. The most powerful safety feature of social networks is ‘being social’. The campaign helps people speak up for each other.”

Facebook’s UK and Ireland policy director Simon Milner has said he hopes the campaign will raise awareness of bullying and how to prevent it, and encourage Facebook’s 30 million UK users to stand up against bullying.

This year Anti Bullying Week has been extended to a whole month in a bid to raise greater awareness of a huge problem amongst young people.

All of this November campaigners will be pushing the theme ‘We’re better without bullying’.

If you are worried about your child, head over to our Bullying page to find out how counselling can help.